Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, has faulted those referring to him as a “Supreme Court Governor”, saying that they are ignorant.

The governor who was interviewed on Channels Television’s Hard Copy on Friday argued he was not the first to be favoured by a Supreme Court justice, adding that he emerged as governor of the state through legitimate means.

https://youtu.be/3ApazbBe4_E

“It is the height of ignorance because they don’t know what they are saying. There is a reason for the Supreme Court. In the doctrine and principle of democracy, the law expected that there would be grievances and malpractices in the electoral process,” Uzodinma said.

“When this happens, the only legitimate right you have is to seek redress at the court. And of course, the court determines. Remember that this is not the first time, so many elections had held where the candidates went to court and they got justice. So, why will mine be different?

“Human beings voted and the votes were not counted. I went to the Supreme Court and INEC was unable to explain why they did not enter the result. It was a simple judgment. The Supreme Court said INEC was wrong.”

On governance, Uzodinma said his administration had been making efforts to increase the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of Imo State.

He, however, regretted that following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the state’s IGR nosedived.

According to the governor, a huge percentage of companies doing business in Imo have not filed in their tax returns to the state government.

“By January, we were trying to build up our Internally Generated Revenue which was on the increase. By February it was on the increase but the thing nosedived in March.

“As I speak to you, 95 per cent of the companies operating in Imo State have not filed their annual returns,” he said.

Uzodinma emerged as Imo governor after the Supreme Court sacked Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on January 14.

Indigenes of Alor community in Idemili South local government area of Anambra state on Friday appealed to Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu to run for office of the President in 2023.

Our correspondent gathered that the indigenes trooped out en mass bearing placards with various inscriptions urging the former Abia governor to join in the race for number one office in the country.

The elated indigenes held a peaceful procession at the palace of the traditional ruler of Alor , His Royal Highness Igwe MacAnthony Elibe Okonkwo chanting songs and calling on Nigerians to support South East to produce next Nigerian president.

Senator Kalu had visited Alor, home of the Honorable Minister for Labour and Employment for the funeral ceremony of late Chief Mrs. Priscilla Mary Ejiakardo Amolue.

Sources close to the Senate Chief Whip revealed that the former Governor who was expected to pay a courtesy call on the traditional ruler had on a tip off from the state security services about the procession immediately rescheduled his visit to the traditional ruler to a new date.

It will be recalled that Kalu in a recent interview appealed to Nigerians to allow President Muhammadu Buhari concentrate on the completion of his tenure rather than distracting him with who replaces him in the future.

Meanwhile Kalu’s presence at the funeral caused an overwhelming sensation at the home of the Amolues’ . Shouts of Mmiririenyi Ndigbo filtered the air as he sang worship songs and danced with the women and youths.

With Kalu at the event were former Chairman Independent Democrats, Hon Edozie Madu; Senator Uche Lilian Ekwunife of Anambra Central ; Hon. Mascot Uzor Kalu ; Chief Chidozie Nwankwo, Barr. Sylvester Okonkwo , Hon. Osita Chidoka , Hon. Madukwe Ukaegbu and Hon. Chibuike Jonas.

With his entourage , Kalu proceeded to the home of Chief Chidozie Nwankwo in Oko where he was entertained by the astute business mogul and chieftain of All Progressives Congress(APC).

The former Governor later left for Enugu from Oko where he flew back to Abuja at exactly 7 PM.

Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has launched an entrepreneurship support program for young Abians with innovative ideas but who need minimal financial support to actualize their projects.

Speaking during the presentation of funds to the first beneficiary of the program, Mr Chukwudike Okoroafor, from Umunneochi LGA, Governor Ikpeazu who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr ACB Agbazuere, stated that the objective of the program is to support young Abians who have good ideas but lack the financial resources to take off.

According to him, “we hope to use this program to raise at least 24 entrepreneurs within the next two years, with one winner emerging every month for the next two years. It has always been our dream to approach empowerment from a different perspective rather than the traditional means of giving Keke NAPEP to graduates as empowerment. We want to support ideas because it is what rules the world and I know there are many young Abians with brilliant ideas we can support as long as they meet our criteria”.

He directed the state Commissioner for Information to set up an appropriate platform for those with good entrepreneurial ideas, within the budget of the program, to participate in a monthly competition with the best emerging as winner.

Speaking after receiving the cash support from the Governor, Mr Okoroafor who plans to open a piggery with the funds expressed appreciation to the Governor for responding to his plea for support to start up the project and assured that he will make maximum use of the opportunity to launch himself as a major pig farmer.

“When I contacted the Governor for support to start this project, I never knew help would come so fast and I want to assure the Governor that I will never disappoint him. He has surprised me and I know my God will reward him”, he said.

Briefing newsmen, the State Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, stated that a team made up of the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mrs Ijeoma Ogbonna and DG BCA will select the winners every month and called on young Abians who are resident in the state to submit their proposals to his office in sealed envelopes for consideration. According to him, “while the first winner emerged from the agric sector, the program is open to all areas of entrepreneurship as long as the proposal can be funded within the monthly one million naira limit. All you need to qualify is to be a young Abian that is resident in the state and have good ideas that can be supported to yield good results. The start up grant is non refundable but we have a monitoring team that includes the relevant Local Government Chairman that will ensure that the money is used for the stated purpose.”

He informed that In the spirit of creating more jobs, Governor Ikpeazu is interested in grooming young Àbìàns who are interested in making a career out of horticulture, landscaping and Gardening. According to him, there is an existing vacancy for instant employment for the first ten who applies through his office.

Chief Okiyi further informed that the total package includes the employment of 7 pupil engineers in each of the 17 LGAs of the state who will be trained by the state ministry of works and deployed for road maintenance assignments. He advised those who are interested to submit their applications and curriculum vitae to the office of the state Commissioner for works for immediate engagement.